Vanna is dead. Long live Vanna.

John has been an absolute saint about my vanagon obsession, I think partly because he really has enjoyed our cross-country trips.  He is wiling to do it again this fall, but his one request is that we find a van with AC since Vanna gets hot and road noise can be deafening at times with the windows down.

So I started looking for a new, improved Vanna.  And since we were going for an upgrade, why not get one with "syncro" too?  (Syncro is the AWD technology the clever VW engineers devised for vanagons.  The technology eventually found itself in Audis too.)

But VW made very few full camper syncro Westfalias and even fewer with AC.  They are rare and expensive.   But Tom Hanks and Jimmy Buffett own a syncro so I had to have one too.  Click on the these links to learn about syncros:

NY TIMES: Drawn to a 1980's Camper With the Soul of an S.U.V.

YouTube: God is a syncro

VW syncro promotional video

I found several syncros without AC as far away as Colorado and Alaska but I finally located one in Langley, BC with AC. It was for sale for the bargain price of $25,000 (US, not Canadian) and it had over 500,000 km on the odometer.  (It doesn't sound quite so bad when you convert km to miles, but that's still over 300,000 miles on the chassis.)  My insanity over Westys clouded my judgement so I called and bought it on the spot, sight unseen.

Several weeks later John and I drove up to BC with cashiers check in hand.  (That John is a saint, did I mention that?)  I had fully researched the requirements when importing a vehicle from Canada to the US and had made arrangements to file paperwork with the customs office in Seattle to make new Vanna legal.  Unfortunately, the US border crossing agent at the Canadian border was less well versed in the rules than I was.  Three hours spent in the border crossing station but I was finally allowed to drive on.  And after filing the paperwork and paying duty, new Vanna is now a US citizen.

She is now at Eion's Automotive in Seattle undergoing a full makeover:  brand new Subaru engine, rebuilt transmission, rebuilt syncro coupling, rebuilt differential, new brakes, new LED lighting, truck fridge. Everything that could possibly break down on our trip is being replaced.  Everything.  Except the drivers.
Here is the brand new 2.5 Subaru engine all wrapped and crated:

And here is the eponymous Eion making the first of many raids on my wallet:

But seriously, Eion is incredibly knowledgeable and a true master mechanic.  And he's a great guy, too.  John and I can't recommend him and his shop highly enough.

And now a contest:  the person who comes closest to guessing how much Vanna's total makeover costs-without running over- will win a fabulous prize.  Submit your guess in the comments section or email me your guess.  Good luck!

And here's the prize: your very own Vanna! (or whatever name you give her)

p.s.  We sold old Vanna to a lovely neighbor three doors down, and she couldn't be happier.  I think my Westy insanity is infectious.